Condiment dispenser



Jan 2, 194.0- P. J. TARANToLo y CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed Nov. 25, 1958 Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relatesto condiment dispensers, and more particularly to combination-type of salt and pepper shakers, and my main object is to provide an article of this kind which is compact 5 and emcient.4

A further object of the invention is to construct the novel article only of two major parts, that it may be exceedingly simple.

A still further object of the invention is to design a dispensing control which is entirely external and may be quickly removed for cleaning "if necessary.

Another object of the invention is to f orm the ydispensing control with simple and effective actuating means.

' An important object of the invention is to design the same along lines of neatness, and suitable for ornamental embellishment as the fancy may dictate.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of the novel dispenser,

partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation as seen from the right-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modification. f

' Various developments of the divided salt and pepper shaker have occurred from time to time in the patent art, but few if any of them have appeared on the market. Possibly complications in design and difliculties during use have been the deterrent factors, and it has therefore been my intention to develop a dispenser of thistype which makes for eiiiciency from every point of view.

' In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates the dispenser at III, thesame being a container of cylindrical or other suitable form made of metal, plastic material, porcelain or glass. The container is formed with a semi-spherical top or dome II and a at bottom I2. y

The container I0 is made with a medial partition I3 to define internal compartments I4 and I5 for the different condiments, such as salt and pepper. The partition I3 reaches to the top II,

and is made integrally with the same and the balance of the container. The top has sets of perforations I6 for each compartment; and the bottom is formed with holes I'I for Stoppers of cork or other suitable material for the compartments.

The top receives an accurately-fitted cap I9, whichvfully covers the top at one side but terminates a number of degrees shorter at the other side, as indicated at ISa. The cap is centered horizontally to be slidable over the top II with 10 a circular motion, so that it may have a limited swing to the right from the position of Fig. 1 to the extent where the bottom portion I9a of the cap meets the upper edge Illa of the container Iii. The cap is pivotally disposed for the abovel purpose by beingformed with opposed inward beads 20 at the center which seat in circular cavities 2| formed in the top II.

In order that the cap I9 may be swung in one or the other direction, the cap is extended down- 20 wardly in the region of the beads 20 with arms 22 which' have knob-shaped continuations 23. The arms 22 have inward beads 24 which are adapted to seat in one or the other of laterally arranged cavities 25 formed in the container Ill, 25 according to the position in which the cap is located. The arms 22 being of spring metal' and with a gathering tendency, they will become locked by means of the disposal of the beads 24- in either of the cavities 25, so as to maintain 30 the cap I9 in the corresponding position.

The cap i9 is formed with two series of perforations 26 and 2'I, these being over the respective compartments I4 and I5 and positionedin relation to the ltop perforations I0 that only one or 35 the other condiment can issue when the dispenser is inverted and agitated, according to the position of the cap.

llt will be evident from the above description that I have provided a combination condiment 40 dispenser which is of exceeding simplicity, since it is mostly cast or formed in one piece. The only additional major part is the cap I9, which may be quickly applied and sprung in place. Conversely, the cap can be quickly unsnapped 45 and placed under the hot water faucet ,to thoroughly clean it. Further, it makes a smooth but close fit, so as to permit no seepage of the condiments between it and the surface of the top I I. The cap is preferably made of stainless steel, 50 so as to be unaffected by the moisture or corrosive influence of salt. Thus, the cap may be depended upon to operate smoothly at all times. It is noted that the cap applies immediately to the exit zone of each compartment, so that there 55 is'no opportunity at any time for the condiments to mix. Further, the knobs 23 may be actuated together or singly with the same eect.

The modification of Fig. 6 is along the same principle as the main embodiment, except that the cap 28 is much shorter and sector-shaped as seen from the side. Thus, this form of cap uncovers all of the periorations of one compartment and vice versa, as the handle 29 is swung, the extent of the swing necessarily being greater than in the previous instance. 'I'he modiiication may be made with the top 30 white over the salt compartment and black over the pepper compartment. Thus, the color of the exposed portion will be an indication of which compartment is open.

Whether in the main or modied form, the novel dispenser forms a neat and compact article which is doubly useful at the same time, since it always supplies both condiments as distinguished.

yfrom the supply of only one condiment by the usual dispenser or shaker.

Further, only one dispenser is necessary to be purchased :for both purposes or to be considered when the service of salt and pepper for the table is in view. Finally, it will be apparent that the novel dispenser readily lends itself to various modes of external ornamentation, style or embellishment, as the fancy or requirements may dictate. l

While I have described the invention in two preferred forms, various minor changes and renements may be made without departing from the principle of the invention, and I desire to consider all such changes and renements as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination condiment dispenser comprising a container having a pair of laterally divided compartments and a domed top formed with sets of perforations for each compartment,

and a cap for said top formed with like sets of perforations and pivotally movable to slide over said top in one or the other direction to alternately register corresponding sets of cap and top perforations, the cap and top being part spherical, the top having indentations on opposite sides, the cap having inward projections seating in said indentations to form a pivotal line for said fmovement, and means to lock the capin either working position of its movement, said means comprising arms depending from the zone of said projections, and stop means between said arms and the wall of the container.

2. A combination condiment dispenser comprising a container having a pair o! laterally divided compartments and a -domed top formed with sets of perforations for each compartment, and a cap for said top formed with like sets o! perforations and pivotally movable to slider over said top in one or the other direction to alternately register corresponding sets of cap and top perforations, the cap and top being part spherical, the top having indentations on opposite sides, the cap having inward projections seating in said indentations to form a pivotal line for said movement, and means to lock the cap in either working position of its movement, said means comprising arms depending from the zone of said projections, the container walls having laterally arranged pairs of indentations opposite said arms, and inward projections carried by the latter and adapted to -register with either indentation, the arms being of spring material and with a tendency to seat in such indentations.

3. A combinationcondiment dispenser comprising a container having a pair oi' laterally divided compartments and a domed top formed with sets of perforations for each compartment, and a cap for said top formed with like sets of perforations and pivotally movable to slide over said top in one or the other direction to alternately register corresponding sets of cap and top perforations, the cap and top being part spherical, the top having indentations on opposite sides, the cap f having inward projections seating in said indentations to form a pivotal line' for said movement, and means to lock the cap in either working position oi its movement, said means comprising arms depending from the zone of said projections, the container walls having laterally arranged pairs of indentations opposite said arms, and knobs extended from the region of the projections to form manual actuators.

4. A combination condiment dispenser comprising a container formed with a partition to define a pair of laterally spaced compartments, a domed top for the container and formed with a set of perforations for each compartment, a cap slidable over the dome with a pivotal movement to uncover either set of peri'orations. the sides of the cap being pivoted to the container, and extensions of the capbeyond the pivots for manual actuation to operate the cap.

5. The structure of claim 4, and means between the extensions and the walls of the container to lock the cap in either working position.

. PETER J. TARANTOLO. 

